In a dramatic turn of events at the Australian Open 2025, Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from his semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev, citing injury concerns. The match, which saw Zverev win the first set 7-6, ended prematurely when Djokovic walked to the net and informed his opponent of his decision to withdraw. Djokovic had been battling an injury sustained during his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz, which became more apparent as the match progressed, especially with the long rallies that Zverev was able to dictate.

Zverev, who has been in strong form after recovering from a serious ankle injury, reached his first-ever Melbourne final and will now face the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner. Djokovic's early exit means he continues to fall short in his quest to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, leaving fans wondering whether he will ever add to his tally. The defeat also prevented Djokovic from securing his 100th career title, which would have placed him in a select group with Roger Federer.

Zverev’s victory not only marks a career milestone but also sets the stage for what could be a highly anticipated Australian Open final, as he aims for his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne.